“This thing happened in seconds” – woman recalls being robbed in Sophia

Rihanna Jeffrey, the sister of one of the victims of last year’s Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire, faced another tragic ordeal on Friday in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, when she was robbed of her valuables by bandits.
Reports are that the incident occurred at about 18:30h on Friday, after Rihanna had ventured into the city to withdraw cash, having planned to travel to Karisparu in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to transport her brothers to Georgetown. Still grappling with the trauma of losing her sister and several family members in the Mahdia fire, Rihanna recounted this new harrowing experience.

“On Friday, I went to town to withdraw some cash, to travel on Saturday to Karisparu to bring out my brothers, who hadn’t attended school since the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory fire tragedy. I caught a Sophia bus from town, and stopped at the Red Shop Corner Chinese supermarket to grab a few things to cook. Then, I decided to go to the pharmacy nearby to buy some medications,” she said.
As she walked out of the pharmacy, she detailed to this publication, a motorbike with two individuals approached her from behind, and one of the persons thereon snatched her handbag, cutting the strap in the process. She said the incident unfolded so quickly that she was left in a state of shock and panic.
“This thing happened in seconds; there was no time for me to call for help or anything. I was traumatized, and my anxiety and panic attacks kicked in. I have been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks since I lost my sister, my niece, and two cousins in the Mahdia dorm fire, and am still undergoing counselling therapy at the Psychiatry clinic (at) GPHC,” Rihanna said.
She says this robbery has taken a toll of her emotions, and while she was not physically harmed, the loss of her belongings has left her in an emotionally precarious situation.
“The bag had a bank card, Psychiatry clinic appointment card, documents for Singers, $230,000, a cellphone (Samsung A32 valued at $94,000), charger, and other fine accessories,” she said.
The matter has been reported to the Police, and Rihanna is hoping that, at best, her documents are recovered. (G9)